We have an opportunity to let our British Columbia neighbors know that we in Washington State care about their oil spill regulations. The BC government is asking for public input, so here’s our chance to further protect the future health of our Salish Sea (especially with the Kinder Morgan pipeline expansion project threatening our waters with a sevenfold increase in tanker vessels exporting diluted bitumen tar sands crude oil). Let’s help make sure that the oil spill regulations in BC are at least as rigorous as in WA — because oil spills do not recognize international borders!
ACTION
Tell the BC government where you live and why you want their oil spill regulations to be the best they can be. BC needs to be able to prevent and respond to an oil spill in their waters before it washes up on our shores.
Ways to tell them:
• Email your written comments to: SpillResponse@gov.bc.ca
• Complete the online questionnaire: https://engage.gov.bc.ca/spillsregulation/
What you can say:
These are the basic principles for effective oil spill response:
• BC oil spill regulations should be at least comparable with Washington State’s
• Those with the most to lose from oil pollution must have a voice in decisions that put their livelihoods and communities at risk
• The polluter must pay and impacted communities must have input on what, why, and how spills and payments for spills are assessed
• Regulations must be based on the best independent science and analysis
• Regulations must be transparent, comprehensive and compulsory
• Shippers must be able to clean up what they transport
COMMENTS DUE 4:00pm on Monday, April 30
Thank you to our friends at Georgia Strait Alliance for bringing this action to our attention. You can read more and also sign an online petition on their website: https://georgiastrait.org/work/tankers-and-spills/no-oil-spills/oil-spill-impacts-and-response/
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MORE INFO
CBC: Years after oil spills, money still owed to Vancouver, aquarium and Heiltsuk Nation
Seattle P-I: Calls to action aimed at keeping oil out of the Salish Sea heard on both sides of border
Oregon Public Broadcasting: BC’s Oil-Spill Readiness Has US Neighbors Worried About Pipeline Expansion
Vancouver Sun: Washington state officials ‘very concerned’ Canada’s oil pipeline spill plan lacking
National Observer: Washington state officials troubled by oilpatch secrets
San Juan Islanders for Safe Shipping 